We’ll be attending The Whiteboard Sessions tomorrow. My friend Ben Arment and the gang have put together a conference experience that is bound to be like nothing I’ve seen in the church world.

Ben has asked 8 of the most influential leaders in the church today to each come and share what’s on their heart for 30 minutes apiece. What a concept!

What is most exciting to me is that the speakers weren’t selected because they all think alike, speak alike, dress alike, or agree about everything.

On the contrary, from the looks of it some of these guys may only agree about one thing – the most important thing – that Jesus Christ and His Bride (the Church) are the hope of the world!

Can’t wait to see what God has in store…

I started a new coaching network with Nelson Searcy in New York City today. It isn’t cheap or easy to get away and get there once a month, but it’s much like the flight in tonight. As a leader, I have to be intentional about making time to look at Iron City Church from a fresh and different perspective.

Thank you God for giving me the opportunity to push away, learn from and with like-minded church leaders, and ultimately to try to see ICC the way You see her – as a force in your hands to redeem people’s lives through Christ for eternity. Help me to lead her to fulfill Your dreams for her.

Thursday we went to the Unleash Conference at NewSpring Church in Anderson. I’ll try to post some of my learnings from Perry Noble and the gang later.

Then last night I flew to NYC for my monthly coaching network meeting today. I think Nelson (who leads the group) has been having me followed based on what we talked about today. Again, I’ll share some of the specifics later.

Now I’m about to get on an airplane and head home for a deep, slobber-inducing night’s sleep in my own bed. Can’t wait for that!

That’s what this last week or so has been for me.  The tension of having a whole lot of stuff to get done AND an astounding amount of excitement about what’s upcoming.  I like to say that one aspect of the “abundant life” (John 10:10) that Jesus promises is that there’s never a dull moment!

Here’s some of what’s got me excited:

• Jeff preached on Sunday and did an awesome job talking about Naomi in our Heroes series (click here for the .mp3)
• We are getting all prepped and ready for an off the hook Easter Sunday service and the series that we’re kicking off that day
  
• I spent some time today with my father (and catalytic pastor) making plans for some of the crazy stuff we’re doing this summer (like the baddest baseball camp western Pennsylvania has ever seen – more on this later!)”
• We’re taking a team of ICC folks tomorrow down to upstate South Carolina for Thursday’s UNLEASH Conference at NewSpring Church - I am so looking forward to this!
• Dad is preaching on (Palm) Sunday about Moses to wrap up our Heroes series
• Easter is a week and a half away!!!

There is just something to being able to push away from the day to day and spending time both alone with God and in the company of other like-minded pastors.  It always leaves me both extremely encouraged AND challenged to do everything I can do to better lead Iron City Church. 

The statement that always encourages me as far as growing, changing and striving to become a better pastor is this:
GOD WANTS IRON CITY CHURCH TO GROW WAY MORE THAN I WANT IRON CITY CHURCH TO GROW!

With that in mind, it’s my job to continue to seek Him for guidance, learn all I can from others, and more than anything be disciplined, wise, and faithful to come home and put all that I’m learning into practice – knowing that God will bring the increase.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

This stuff is unbelievable.  Can’t . . . stop . . . check the website: http://www.daleandthomaspopcorn.com.

I probably post a lot about this, but I don’t think it can be overstated: growing churches are led by growing leaders.  The reason I’m in NYC tonight instead of home with my family is because I believe I need to grow as a leader to be a good steward of the people God entrusts to me and Iron City. 

So I’m praying for God to bring some amazing perspective, clarity, and insight tomorrow in the context of this learning community of Kingdom-minded guys.  Beyond that (and even more importantly), I’m praying that I can go home and be disciplined enough to put into action whatever He reveals.

Oh yeah, New York City is awesome (as usual).  So many people, so little space, so much energy.

I got to spend some time hanging out with my friend Tony Portell and he scored and shared some tickets to the Late Show with David Letterman Thursday night (more on this in my next post).  I don’t know if it was just being out of town or what, but I had the best night’s sleep Thursday night that I have had in a long time.  The only downer of the entire trip was that my flight back home got cancelled Friday and thankfully Jeff was able to get me on another one.  Different airline, different airport, but thankfully they knew where Pittsburgh was.

The network meeting was great on Friday.  I have often said that the journey of planting a church for me has been often marked by great periods of self-discovery: learning and observing who God made me to be.  One thing I know about myself is that I am a passionate learner.  Another thing that I’m fast discovering is that I learn very well in a “learning community” like this network. 

I am a consummate brain-picker (if that’s a word) and this group is just that kind of an opportunity. There are a lot of guys who have been where we are as a church and led their churches much further down the road.  And the guy that leads the group - Nelson Searcy - may be on the list of people I am obligated to name a child after because of all the help he has been to me and ICC, but don’t hold me to that (and don’t tell Amber).

All in all, if you are a pastor or church leader I would highly recommend being involved in a coaching network.  If nothing else, find a group of people who are like-minded and all have similar aims and begin sharing information.  Why should you be willing to share the stuff that God has been teaching you?  One word: KINGDOM!

So I’m sitting in the Pittsburgh Airport (thanks for the free wi-fi) getting ready to head out.  I’ll share later about my experience.  If you’re reading this soon, please pray for safe travel and that I would learn everything I can to become the leader God created me to be.

Peace out.